Kai gulped hard. "A map of the School?"
"Ooooh," Jay said, catching on. "We need to get Zane back, because they're going to do awful things to him, so we need to get him back, and to do that, we're going to go break into the School, and we're going to get Zane out, and so we need these papers so we know where we need to go, and once we know where we need to go, we can get going, so we better-"
"Breathe, Jay," I told him. "Take a break to breathe."
Jay paused, took a deep breath, and asked, "How far away is the School?"
"About a seven hour flight," Nya answered, now peering at a different map. "Maybe eight, plus some time for breaks."
"Breaks are good," Kai offered weakly. "If we're all going to do this, breaks are a good idea."
I hesitated before speaking, a little unsure of myself. But I had to be sure of myself. This was the best way forward. "Actually, 'we' aren't all going to do this. Just Jay, Nya, and I are going to go rescue Zane."
Cole, who had been leaning against the wall by the table, straightened up. "What?"
"Jay, Nya, and I are going to go rescue Zane. Cole, you and Kai are staying here. If Zane somehow gets free on his own, he's going to come back here, and I need someone to be here just in case," I explained, hoping they would buy it.
They didn't buy it.
"That's a lie," Cole accused, crossing his arms. "You don't think you'll need us here at all. Why don't you just come out with it and say what you really mean?"
I sighed. "Okay, fine. What I mean is, you're blind, Cole."
"Really? I hadn't noticed," Cole snapped with a scowl.
I ignored his biting anger and barged forward. "You're great at navigating here at home where you know where everything is, but we're not going to be in places where you know where everything is. We're going to be in new territory, and I can't be sure you'll be able to handle it."
Okay, that came out a little harsher than I had intended, given the way Cole's scowl deepened, but it got the message across and right now, that was what mattered most.
"But why can't I come?" Kai piped up. "I can't just sit around and do nothing when Zane's captured. He's our little brother!"
"That's right. He's the youngest. And you're second youngest. And if they decided they want him back, maybe they'll want you back just as much," I said. "Not to mention, again, you're second youngest. You get tired quicker than the rest of us, and we're going to be flying for hours on end. You need to stay here."
"'You need to stay here,'" Kai mimicked angrily. "No way!"
"Yes way. I'm in charge, and I say you're staying, so you're staying," I said.
"If Garmadon was here, he wouldn't make us stay," Cole shot back.
Garmadon was my weak point, and Cole knew it. I took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then let it out, saying, "Maybe he wouldn't have made you stay. Maybe he would have. We don't know, because he's gone. But I'm still here, and I'm in charge, so what I say goes. So, Jay, Nya, let's get packed."